Disclaimer - This scholarship is made available and administered by the Minnie Bairstow Trust and is not affiliated with Curtin. Please contact the Minnie Bairstow Trust for up to date information about the scholarship, and to apply.

The Minnie Bairstow Aboriginal Scholarship (Scholarship), founded in 1987, originally supported Aboriginal university students by providing student accommodation and small grants. In 2019, this shifted to offering course-long scholarships to better cover housing costs, providing stability throughout students' studies. It supports students across all five Perth universities in diverse fields, with recipients chosen by an independent panel of Aboriginal tertiary education professionals and Trust representatives.

Please visit their webpage for more information about the scholarship. 

• Current Students

• Centre for Aboriginal Studies
• Faculty of Business and Law
• Faculty of Health Sciences
• Faculty of Humanities
• Faculty of Science & Engineering
  • Science courses
  • Engineering courses
  • Western Australian School of Mines (WASM)

• Undergraduate

• Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander Students
• Student accommodation

• Australian Citizen

• Need Based

The Scholarship will provide the following support for the remaining duration of your course:

• An annual value of up to $12,000, ($6,000 per semester), or up to 75% of the student's rent, based on full-time studies, paid directly to the student's landlord, college, or leasing agent.

Eligible courses include:

• A first undergraduate degree
• A second degree in a field that is only offered at post-graduate level at your university and requires a general undergraduate degree as a prerequisite for entry (e.g. Master of Psychology, Honours of Archeology, Doctor of Medicine)

The following courses are not eligible:

• University enabling/bridging courses
• Second or subsequent post-graduate courses
• Post-graduate courses (except as noted above)
• Second or subsequent undergraduate degrees
• Certificate or Diploma courses (other than enabling/bridging courses)

• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent
• Experiencing financial hardship
• Study and live in Perth, WA while enroled in university
• Receive Abstudy (but not Abstudy Residential Costs option)
• Enrolled full-time or near full-time as an internal (face-to-face) student in an eligible course for Semester 1, 2026.
• Pay rent for accommodation

Please visit their website for the full eligibility criteria. 

Full Scholarship information and Application forms / instructions can be located through the Minnie Bairstow Aboriginal Scholarship webpage.

Documents and information you may need to complete your application:

• Current enrolment advice
• Documents demonstrating previous academic achievements eg. Year 12 reports, WACE certificates, previous semesters' results advice, any other study started or completed since leaving school.
• Accommodation contract or tenancy agreement
• Abstudy assessment letter
• Pay slips and records of any other income to calculate your estimated income for this year. If you are married or in a marriage-like relationship, you will also need your spouse or partner's income details.
• Your character referees' preferred contact details (make sure they are happy to be contacted)

Saving and returning to the form:

You can save and return to the form at any time:

• Click the 'Save' button at the bottom right hand corner of each page.
• A message will appear with a link that you can save and use to return to the online form.
• Alternatively, you can type in your email address and the link will be sent to you in an email.
• The link will expire in 28 days (or on the closing date Sunday 16 February 2026 if this is earlier). You can request a new link if it expires before the closing date.
• Make sure you save regularly to avoid losing your work.

Submitting the form:

• Hit the 'Submit' button on the last page of the online form.
• You won't be allowed to submit unless you have answered all the 'required' questions (indicated with an asterix*).
• Submit the form by the end of the day on Sunday 16 February 2026.
• You will receive a submission confirmation by email after you submit your application form.
• Use the link in your submission confirmation email to return to your submitted application form to update it, right up until the closing time.
• Make sure the confirmation email is kept safe - it contains your personal information and allows access back into your application, so you don't want other people accessing it.

Recipients must meet all of the following:

• Maintain good academic progress
• Comply with your accommodation provider’s tenancy agreement
• Maintain contact with the Project Officer and inform them of any changes to your circumstances
• Attend an annual gathering to meet other scholarship recipients and the Trust’s management committee
• Provide evidence of your academic progress and tenancy compliance.

For academic progress you will need to provide:

• Proof of enrolment at census date of each semester
• Proof of academic results at the conclusion of each semester
• Your authorisation to liaise directly with a nominated staff member from your university who can confirm your academic progress and continued enrolment each semester

For tenancy compliance you will need to provide: 

• Your authorisation for us to liaise directly with your accommodation provider

Email contact@minniebairstowscholarship.org or call Project Officer on: 0467 154 203